History of Creation Justice Ministries

Creation Justice Ministries started under the umbrella of The National Council of the Churches USA, and operated as the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Program until 2013. Learn more about our history by following the timeline below.1983

The National Council of Churches (NCC) Eco-Justice Working Group is founded to help national bodies of Protestant and Orthodox Christian communions collaborate on care for creation. The Working Group formed as a merger of committees on simple lifestyle and on responding to the acid rain crisis.

1984

NCC releases news article supporting the need to preserve the environment and seek balance between ecology and industry.

1985

NCC begins working with farming families in conjunction with efforts to deal with farm crisis issues

1986

NCC publishes statement affirming belief in God's purposeful creation and in the unique responsibility of humans to care for creation.

NCC cosponsors environmentalists and social justice advocates from both church and secular organizations under common cause: Eco-Justice.

1987

NCC participates in regional glass recycling program in Washington DC called “Operation Igloo.”

NCC weighs in on genetic engineering of food and the potential for serious environmental problems.

NCC, along with other organizations, produce materials advocating to halt the ravaging of forests.

1988

NCC releases statement during Louisiana Toxics March, saying clean water is a gift from God.

Article titled Ethics of Recycling is published in the Washington Post and receives positive feedback from public.

1989

NCC releases statement calling on companies to address effects of products and production processes on employees, communities and the environment.

NCC joins with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Evangelical Environmental Network, to form the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

Vice President Al Gore makes address to a two-day "environmental and economic justice" summit sponsored by the NCC.

1994

NCC participates in Toxic Tours and Hearings in El Paso, TX.

1995

A Lobby Day is organized for NCC communion representatives.

1996

NCC Eco-Justice produces Caring for Creation a video on the Endangered Species Act.

NCC goes to Capitol Hill to deliver a message: “Organized religion is taking the environment seriously.”

Spike in ‘Letters to the Editor’ on Climate, the result of campaign to energize Clergy and lay leaders.

NCC Eco-Justice Program featured in an Associated Press story on climate and energy, which ran in The Christian Post and the Boston Globe.

NCC expands its state-based work on Climate and Energy, increasing the number of states by nearly double.

NCC focuses “green church” efforts on loan and investment programs.

Advocacy:

NCC member communion Presbyterian Church USA sends an appeal to their 2.3 million members to become carbon neutral.

Episcopal Church Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori testifies on global warming and poverty to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on behalf of the NCC.

Letters were delivered to every office on the Hill during House and Senate’s energy debates.

Valentines Day e-advocacy campaign generates more than 19,800 letters to Members of Congress on carbon issues.

NCC meets with Speaker Pelosi to discuss the need to include fuel economy standards and renewable energy standards in the Energy Bill.

Briefing for the U.S. House of Representatives on climate change.

NCC visits more than 50 House and Senate offices to highlight the need for effective energy policy.

NCC supports Congressman Markey as he introduced his CAFE bill.

House and Senate approve increase in CAFÉ standards with support from the NCC Eco-Justice team.

More than 150 clergy in South Carolina endorse the NCC statement of principles on global warming.

NCC supports protecting the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.

NCC leads team communities in Chalmette, LA—sight of the largest residential oil spill in the history of humankind—and the neighborhood surrounding the Agriculture Street Landfill—a designated Superfund sight.

Conferences and Forums:

Climate and Energy Team help to organize “Step-it-Up climate events” in more than a dozen states.

NCC holds two wilderness forums in Berkeley at GTU and training event in Arizona.

NCC presents global warming message to five states in push to educate the community on issues concerning global warming.

NCC conducts the second Young Adult Eco-Justice Fellowship retreat in Port Isobel, VA.

Mindful Living becomes most popular resource in the history of the Eco-Justice Program, with 9,000 resources distributed.

Lands and Wilderness campaign runs its first photo contest and chooses a winner.

NCC begins education and advocacy efforts on improving safety of personal care products through the FDA.

Advocacy:

NCC delivers more than 2000 climate postcards to Congressional offices asking members to support climate legislation.

Candle light vigils produced media hits around the country. African American communities in North and South Carolina contribute 4,000 signatures to join with 1,200 clergy and 17 major national religious organizations who have endorsed the Faith Principles on Global Warming.

NCC works with representatives Solis and Butterfield to develop climate justice language for House Bill. NCC helps secure the International Adaptation Assistance for developing nations affected by climate policies.

After discussion with Congressional leaders, language to protect people in poverty and vulnerable populations will be included in climate legislation.

NCC succeeds in passing the National Landscape Conservation System through the House of Representatives.

Conferences and Forums:

Eco-Justice puts together a U.S./African faith delegation for the Ghana United Nations climate negotiations.

NCC attends climate negotiations in Poland leading up to UN meeting in Copenhagen.

NCC hosts briefing for Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church on climate change and poverty.

Hosted Theological Climate Briefing for House staffers in conjunction with the Rt. Rev. James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool. NCC staff hosts African delegation in the US on issue of international climate change.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days gathers 700 people of faith across the country with a focus on the issue of climate change.

NCC works with EPA’s office of Public Affairs on strengthening environmental justice.

Senate passes the Public Land Management Omnibus with NCC support.

Advocacy:

NCC meets with head of EPA, Lisa Jackson.

NCC Eco-Justice staff and working group meet with White House staff and climate expert, Carol Browner. Eco-Justice staff joins White House task force on climate and environment.

Over 300 African American clergy members sign on to Faith Principles on Global Warming. 13,000 individuals sign letter to President Obama calling for just climate action.

NCC holds 18 candlelight vigils around the country focusing on climate change and the need for climate justice. More than 500 congregations add climate change to their worship or study over the coming months.

20,000 Countdown to Copenhagen postcards were delivered to United Nations.

NCC organizes 70 environmental health and justice advocates in support of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

NCC works on campaigns in WA, CT, and MN to ban bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles and other food containers & succeeds, with partners, in passing the first state ban on bisphenol-a (BPA) in Minnesota.

NCC rallies support for protecting the Wyoming Range in both House and the Senate. NCC supports the Clean Water Protection Act and Appalachian Restoration Act.

The Green Building Program has reduced 271530.6 lbs of carbon and 71 individuals have signed up for the campaign.

Conferences and Forums:

NCC attends U.N. Climate negotiations in Copenhagen.

NCC sponsors presentation from Alaskan Natives on the effects of toxic chemicals and climate change.